Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins
Published on: August 15, 2017
Remifentanil/Thiopental combination and seizure length in electroconvulsive therapy
Keith G Rasmussen1, Mark W Imig, Ranji Varghese
1Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. rasmussen.keith@mayo.edu
Abstract:
In an effort to see if use of high-potency opioid combined with lower-than-usual dose barbiturate results in longer seizure length in electroconvulsive therapy, we retrospectively examined data from 56 patients. For each case, 1 seizure with thiopental alone and 1 with thiopental combined with remifentanil were compared. Longer mean electroencephalographic seizure length with the combination slightly missed statistical significance, whereas motor seizure duration was not statistically significantly different between the 2 strategies. We conclude that if thiopental is used for anesthetic induction in electroconvulsive therapy in the dose range described herein, modest dose reduction and combination with remifentanil does not reliably prolong seizure duration.
Related Concept Videos
Electroconvulsive Therapy
Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Seizures l: Introduction
Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...
Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for their...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...

